The Future of Manufacturing

Many homeowners are concerned with the impact their renovation and remodelling projects may have on the environment and may want to use materials and construction processes that are as eco-friendly as possible. Before you plan any work on your home, note a few tips for making the work more environmentally friendly overall and discuss these with your contractor as needed. Use reclaimed pieces You can typically find reclaimed wood, glass, and even plumbing pipes and electrical wiring that can be used for renovation and remodelling projects, so always look before you buy anything new. Railway ties, reclaimed from old tracks that are pulled up, are a sturdy choice for retaining walls and outdoor landscaping, and old house framing can be cut and trimmed as needed for a new project while still having years of life left in it. Old window panes can also be trimmed and fit into new frames, or the glass can be treated and then used for benchtops or splashbacks in the kitchen. Old chunks of concrete can be tossed into your new mixture of concrete for a driveway or walkway outside. Look for low VOC The term VOC refers to volatile organic compounds, and these are pollutants that are found in paints, sealants, stains, and other such coatings. These can be very irritating to the sinuses, and they can also settle into the ground around you when you use these materials. Look for low VOC products for any type of coating or colouring you use with your project. Opt for wood already coloured or tinted If you’re adding new timber floors or are having cabinets built for your project, look for reclaimed wood that already has the tint, tone, or colour you prefer. This reduces the amount of paint and stain you’ll need to use overall. White pine is very good if you’re looking for white cabinets in the kitchen, or you might opt for reclaimed cherry wood or mahogany if you want darker floorboards with a nice tint to them. Collect construction scraps Be sure you collect and then recycle your own construction scraps and waste after your project is over. Don’t assume that anything needs to go in the trash, as items like carpeting, concrete chunks, and even sod and vegetation can usually be recycled in some way. This keeps items out of landfills and also reduces the amount of virgin materials that need to be harvested for someone else’s new construction...

Corrugated steel pipes have found a wide range of applications. Indoors, the corrugated steel pipes often come as flexible and stainless to meet both aesthetic and functionality demands. You can use them for high-pressure applications such as supplying cooking gas to your kitchen or air conditioning conduit pipes. Corrugated steel pipes used indoors undergo intense fabrication to ensure that they can stand up to many corrosive elements. They are equally tough as the large pipes used for outdoor applications. The following tips will help you get the most of corrugated steel pipes installed for various indoor applications: Have a Lightning Arrestor at Home Lightning is certainly a force to reckon with considering the possible damage it can cause to your household items and installations. When it strikes, lightning releases a high amount of electrical charge that can easily find its way to your corrugated steel piping. For instance, pipes used for an air conditioning system have to be connected to a central condenser, often installed outside the house. The power surge created by the lighting can damage your pipework by puncturing it, leaving several cracks at various points of the cross section of the pipe. This is why you should have a lightning arrester installed at your house to mitigate the possibility of damage. The arrester has a high-voltage terminal to pick-up lightning charges and a ground terminal that safely directs the charges deep into the ground. Remove Wet Stain for Better Looks Newly galvanised steel comes with a very reactive zinc coating. The presence of moisture and oxygen in the air stimulates the formation of zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide on the surface of the galvanic coating. With the time, the accumulation of excessive hydroxides forms wet stain (discolouration), which isn’t good for the aesthetics of the galvanised steel. The extent and scale of the wet stain depend on how the vendor stored the pipes before you bought them. For the best looks, get rid of the wet stain using a nylon brush. Thereafter, make sure that there is always a free flow of air over the corrugated pipes after installation (don’t stack items on them!). This will prevent any further formation of wet stains. Paint the Pipes You can prolong the life of the corrugated pipe by applying a coat of quality paint. Some regions (especially along the coast) have a high concentration of salts in water, soils and atmospheric moisture. These salts accelerate the degradation of the galvanic coating. Painting over the corrugated pipes will save you lots of replacement costs in the...

The success of your DIY project may depend on how safe you are while you are operating the rented mini-excavator that you are using. It is therefore very important for you to pay special attention to the safety features of that mini-excavator before you rent it. This article discusses some of those crucial safety features. The Rollover Protection System Closely examine the main supports of the rollover protection system of the mini-excavator that you want to rent. Those supports should be firm so that you will be protected in case the mini-excavator accidentally rolls over while you are operating it. Avoid renting a mini-excavator whose canopy or rollover protection system has supports that have cracks or are bent. Such defects may reduce the ability of that canopy to protect you in the event of an accident. Fluid Indicator Lights Many homeowners may forget to find out whether the indicator lights on the control panel work well. Do not make a similar mistake. Pay special attention to the light that shows you the state of the hydraulic system. That light may save you from a potentially dangerous situation, such as when an undetected leak causes the mini-excavator to lose most of its hydraulic fluid suddenly. Such a situation can be very dangerous because you may have just lifted a loaded attachment when the fluid becomes too low to keep the attachment elevated as the mini-excavator goes down a slope. A functioning indicator light can give you a timely warning about low hydraulic fluid levels before your safety is put at risk. Falling Object Protection Make sure that the different falling object protection features, such as the cover of the canopy, are firmly in place. You should also confirm that all the windows are intact in case the mini-excavator is enclosed. This vigilance will ensure that you are safe from any object that falls from above at the site where you are operating the rental mini-excavator. Grab Handles The grab handles should be viewed as a separate safety feature because they exist to ease your entry and egress from the mini-excavator. Do not rent any earthmoving equipment if the grab bars aren’t firmly anchored. This is because you could injure yourself in case you lose your footing as you enter or exit the equipment without the help of a grab bar. Stay safe by making sure that the mini-excavator that you want to rent has all the features above. Only then will you be able use the machine’s immense strength to perform the tasks that would be too time-consuming and tedious to do...

Stainless steel balustrades are popular among homeowners due to their resistance to rust and corrosion. However, different forms of stains and dirt can ruin their beautiful appearance. This article discusses some measures that you can use to clean off different forms of stains and dirt from those balustrades. Routine Cleaning The fact that stainless steel balustrades require minimal maintenance should not lull you into thinking that you should forget all about them once they are installed. It is advisable to clean them as a matter of routine so that any dirt that gets onto them does not become deeply entrenched. For routine cleaning, use soap and warm water. Alternatively, you can use a mild detergent instead of soap. Wipe down the balustrades with that soapy water before you rinse them off with a cloth dipped in clean water. Grease Marks Grease marks can become magnets for more dirt to accumulate on your shiny stainless steel balustrades if you do not clean those marks off as soon as you see them. One of the best ways to remove those grease marks is to use organic solvents, such as alcohol and acetone. Pour the organic solvent on a clean piece of cloth. Rub the wet cloth over the grease mark and you will see the grease mark disappear. Repeat the process for stubborn marks. Fingerprints The numerous hands that hold onto the balustrades as people climb the stairs or use the balcony will inevitably leave fingerprints on the stainless steel balustrades. Those fingerprints can become an eyesore because they mar the appearance of the railing. An easy way to remove the fingerprints is by using a glass cleaner. Use a spray bottle to apply the glass cleaner on those fingerprints, and then wipe the balustrades with a clean cloth. Discolouration Over time, you may notice that the stainless steel balustrades will become discoloured and lose their visual appeal. Do not become resigned to this discolouration as an inevitable aspect of the aging process. Buy stainless steel cleaner online or from a convenience store near you. Spray that cleaner onto the balustrades and then wipe the balustrades with a clean cloth. The balustrades will regain their visual appeal. Use the measures above to ensure that your stainless steel balustrades look as good as new for a very long time. Contact balustrading professionals for advice in case there is any other cleaning task that cannot be tackled using the methods...

If you are planning on selling products, either those that are handmade or that you manufactured, you will need to design and print an appealing label. This entices people to buy the product based on the label’s appeal and using colours that are interesting to them. Here are some tips for designing effective product labels. Use Your Business Colours as Inspiration With any type of branding, you want to be consistent. If you already have a business logo, use the colours and overall style to incorporate them into the labels. If your business colours are red and blue, you should not have product labels where your business name is in white and pink. It doesn’t make sense and the customers won’t immediately relate this product to your business. If you are having a professional design the labels, bring them some materials with your business name and logo, such as coupons and catalogs, that they can use as reference. Think About Colours as Flavours If your product is something containing scents or flavours, think about colours that would remind someone of that particular flavour. For example, if you are selling a homemade lavender body scrub, you should use a pastel lavender shade on your product label. For food items flavoured in lemon or banana, using yellow is an obvious choice. For strawberries, either pink or red should be used. This colour and flavour relation makes a big difference in enticing certain customers to your product. Leave Plenty of White Space While product labels should be descriptive and have colour imagery, don’t overdo it. If the label becomes too busy, it is difficult to read anything on it, and will easily get passed up by potential customers. They need to be able to focus on the words listed, which requires a good amount of empty space on the label with just a plain colour. It doesn’t necessarily have to be white, but it should be a solid colour that helps draw the eyes to the pictures or text on the labels. Use Minimal Fonts With fonts, it is a good idea to use more than one font style and size, but like the amount of images and text, you shouldn’t overwhelm the customer. If you are trying to use 10 different fonts of 5 different sizes, the label becomes extremely hard to read. Try to stick to just a couple different sizes and font styles. Make the primary information one size, while the rest of the information is another font...

Posted by Charlotte Bean on 2:05 pm in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Plastic Caps | 3 Types Of Plastic Joiners For Different Household Applications

If you’re a handy DIY homeowner, then you’ll probably like doing certain home improvement tasks on your own. If you need to connect rods, PVC pipes and aluminium tubes to each other, then plastic caps and plastic joiners are easy DIY applications for both experienced and novice DIYers. If you need to use plastic caps or joiners for any household component, you will need to use an adhesive to help them stick together. Here are different types of plastic caps and joiners to make your home improvement tasks significantly easier. End Plastic Cap End plastic caps are excellent choices for tube or pipe end applications thanks to their soft material and flexible nature. They can be used on virtually any type of pipe or tube in your home as finishing caps, so you can use them as cushioning for a neat appearance and to prevent tubes from scratching your floor or wall surfaces. End plastic caps are easily available at most home improvement or hardware stores, so you can use them as standalone products or together with other plastic joiners. While most are available in standard sizes, you may be able to get them customised at a few hardware stores for your specific home application. For example, if your pipes are rectangle-shaped instead of square shaped, then a hardware store will need to customise plastic caps for your specific needs. Two-Way Plastic Corner Joiners Two-way plastic joiners are corner joiners meant for making any combination of right-angle tubing joins. You can use an adhesive to make the joins permanent or you can tap the tube into the joiner with ease. Two-way plastic caps are suitable for all types of tubing and building applications in your home, so you can use them to make storage racks, picture frames, coffee tables and other furniture pieces. Two-way plastic joiners are easily available at hardware or home improvement stores. You can also get them customised to meet your specific needs. Three-Way Plastic Corner Joiners Three-way plastic joiners are excellent for joining three different tubes or pipes together. These joiners can be used for simple or more complex building projects in your home. While you can fit them into place, it’s ideal to use adhesive to ensure that your building project remains sturdy for longer. Three-way plastic corner joiners can be used to make toolboxes, workbenches, cages, tents, wine racks and home entertainment units and plenty of other items around the house. You can customise these at a hardware store or get standard three-way plastic joiners at a local home improvement store. Understanding the different types of products available in the market will help you establish the right plastic caps and plastic joiners for your project needs....

Since diamonds are the hardest material on earth, they are often used in blades for cutting various types of hard materials. However, there are still variations in the types of blades that are available, which means you need to consider a few factors. Common Diamond Blade Types The most commonly used diamond blade is the sintered metal-bonded blade. This blade has a diamond segment that acts as the grinding or cutting material. They feature a steel core and will be designed based on their planned use. The sintered metal bonded blades can be broken down further into sub-types of blades, including: Wholly sintered diamond blades: Not as efficient as other options due to sintering, which means the core is not strong or hard. Silver brazed diamond blades: Stronger due to their steel core. Laser welded diamond blades: Also have steel cores and ideal for high-intensity projects. Selecting the Right Diamond Blade When selecting the right type of diamond blade, be sure to consider the following factors, which will help you choose the right blade for the project at hand: What material is being cut? It is important to know what makes up the material being cut and then find a blade based on the Mohs test. This will identify the hardness of the aggregate and most blade manufacturers will specify what the blade is able to cut (e.g. limestone, river rock or abrasive sand) or list categories of aggregate (soft, medium or hard). What equipment is being used? Knowing if you are using a 70 hp flat saw or 5 hp power cutter will impact the blade selection. Also, if wet or dry conditions will be present. How deep is the needed cut? This will specify the blade diameter. Cutting depths are specified on the packaging. Do you prefer a long lasting blade or speed? Higher cost blades will last longer, but may not be needed for infrequent use. Think about this when making a purchase. Strength of the Diamond Blade The blade’s strength is dependent on a number of different factors. The core of the blade should have been balanced, hardened and tensioned, which helps to ensure precise cutting and a long life. Blades that feature a thin diamond edge will provide quick cutting and superior strength, but using this option requires caution. Speed is important for any job, but not the most important factor to remember. Be sure to find blades that are described as durable, resilient and strong. Finding one that comes with a guarantee will provide an even longer life. There are some blades that are manufactured with a number of elements that help to ensure long life of the saw, as well as the blade. For example, a blade that is dynamically balanced for vibration reduction will help the machine last longer. Choosing features, such as this, will help the blade work better and last longer. Learn more about your options by contacting suppliers such as Crozier Diamond Tools Aust Pty...

Castor wheels are wheels that can be attached underneath a heavy object (such as a cart used to move parts in a fabrication shop) so that it is easy to move that object. Different castor wheels are suitable for different conditions. This article discusses some of the key factors you should bear in mind as you select castor wheels for the carts in your warehouse. The Load Capacity Load capacity refers to the maximum weight that you expect the castors to carry. Castor wheels are rated to carry different loads so you should determine the load capacity of the cart before you choose the wheels to attach underneath it. For instance, use the weight of the heaviest item that you can put in your cart as a basis for determining the load capacity of the appropriate castor wheel. Divide that weight by the number of wheels that the cart will have. However, some environmental conditions may prevent some of the wheels from supporting the load on the cart. For example, an uneven surface may take the weight off one of the wheels. To accommodate such weight-distribution shortfalls, it may be wise to divide the maximum load by neglecting one wheel from the total number of castor wheels. If the cart has four wheels, calculate the load capacity by dividing the weight by three wheels, for example. That figure you get will guide you on the load capacity of the wheels that you should buy. The Operating Surface Rough surfaces may make it harder to move the cart. Some floors have gaps in them (such as old wooden floors). Larger castor wheels are easier to move over uneven surfaces since they cannot be caught in those gaps in the floor. Buy castor wheels that will be easy to move over the surface of your warehouse. Impact on the Floor Castor wheels should also be selected based on what effect they will have on the floor. For instance, steel wheels have a very high load capacity but they may damage wooden floors. Polymer castor wheels have a limited load capacity but they have a minimal effect on the floors where they are moved. Pick castor wheels whose material will not damage the floor of your warehouse. Type of Bearings Roller bearings have the highest wheel capacity but they are difficult to roll. Ball bearings have a smaller load capacity but they are very easy to move. It may be better for you to buy castor wheels with the largest ball bearings so that the cart isn’t difficult to push. Talk to the supplier of your material handling equipment so that you find a way to balance all the factors above as you select the best castor wheels for your...

Spiral ducting has become increasingly popular among HVAC contractors. However, not many homeowners have all the necessary information to confirm that their contractor has chosen the best material for their HVAC system. This article discusses the pros and cons of spiral ducting. Use this information to make an informed decision about the type of ducts that should be used to install the air conditioning system in your home. The Pros The system consumes less energy. Spiral ducts require less horsepower from the fans pushing the conditioned air through the system. This is because the ducts lack sharp corners around which air needs to be forced. Thus, your energy bill is likely to be lower if your AC system has spiral ducts instead of the traditional rectangular ducts. They have a better appearance. Some homeowners want to leave the ducting exposed. Spiral ducts provide a better esthetic appeal. This is because they have fewer joints that can disrupt the continuity of the ducts. Fewer joints also mean that there are fewer surfaces to trap dust. They are less prone to leaks. Spiral ducting is more airtight than rectangular ducting. This is because you can have longer spiral duct runs before you join one segment to another. Fewer joints mean that there are fewer points at which leaks can develop. There is less noise breakout. The difference in pressure between one section of a rectangular duct and the section angled against it creates noise as air is forced round that bend. This pressure difference does not exist in spiral ducting. This is because the duct curves smoothly (with no sharp bends). Thus, your home will be quieter if you install spiral ducting in your HVAC system. The Cons It may be hard to connect the ducts to fan coils. Many AC fan coil units are rectangular. This presents a challenge of finding the best way to connect the round spiral ducting to a rectangular fitting. Great care must be taken by the installer to avoid creating room for leakage at this potentially awkward connection point. They have a small height clearance. Many contractors opt to run spiral ducting within the space available inside rooms (such as just below the ceiling). This small height clearance can expose these ducts to damage during routine home maintenance activities (such repainting the room). Weigh the pros and cons of spiral ducting before you make up our mind about its suitability for use in your home. You can also talk to an HVAC contractor from a company like Trans Vent Spiral Tubing in case you are still undecided after examining the information above. He or she will guide you through the available...

Recycling can not only be beneficial to the environment, but it can also be lucrative if you focus on scrap metal recycling. The scrap metal industry offers reasonable rates for valuable types of metals. This means that if you know the best scrap metal recycling techniques and tips, you have the ability to earn the highest profits. Become Knowledgeable The first step to earning profits through scrap metal recycling involves becoming educated about the different types of metals. You need to learn about the different types of metals and which are purchased by local recycling centers. There are essentially two types of scrap metal that you need to become familiar with. Ferrous metals are the type that contains iron, and non-ferrous metals are those metal items that do not contain iron. There are normally different grades for ferrous metals. It is normally easy to identify the difference between the two types by using a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the metal item, it is ferrous. The non-ferrous metals actually have the most worth. Break it down It is important to learn early on that you can earn more for the metals that you scrap if you break it down before you take it to the recycling center. This allows you to get the different types of metals that are contained within different items. If you scarp an old car separately, you could get more money by scrapping all the parts instead of scrapping the vehicle altogether. Focus on Value Instead of concentrating on the amount of metal that you collect, it is best to focus on the type of scrap metal that you are collecting. This means that you need to spend your time looking for scrap metals that have the highest worth. This includes non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, stainless steel and brass. Copper is lightweight and has one of the highest values on the market, which makes it the most sought after type of scrap metal for most collectors. You can find it in electrical wiring, copper tubing and also hot water tanks. Grade Not only do you need to focus on specific types of metals, but you should also be on the lookout based on grade. You want to scrap metals that have a higher grade and offer more value. This can normally be determined by looking at the color of the scrap metal. Be sure to know what shades of metals offer the most worth. For more information, contact a local scrap metal recycling...

About Me

Hi, I'm Charlotte Bean. Thanks for visiting my site. Just for a little about me – I like making pottery, doing mosaics and developing new recipes (even though most of them don't work out). This is my site on manufacturing and how things are made. It's a really fascinating topic, and I would love to share my discoveries with you.